Today our joy ride wore everybody out. It was 60 miles of riding up one climb and then going down back to start another climb. I did not take any pictures today because I was either gripping the bars to pull myself up the hill or holding on going down. The roads today were narrow concrete two lane roads built right after the war. There is no shoulder to speak of so when one of the 1000 grain/livestock/milk trucks gets behind you and there is oncoming traffic all you hear is the change in pitch of the motor, the whooshing of their brakes and the squeaking and clanging of their trailers as the come to an 8mph speed while I toil up the hill. Just think about grinding up a big hill while behind you there is the chugga chugga of a big diesel motor who is waiting to pass but cannot because they cannot see what is coming down the other lane because of the hill. Oh man is it fun. I try very hard not to look up into my rear view mirror during those times because I’m afraid of what I’ll see and I don’t want to lose my concentration going up the hill.

I think whoever led me to believe Iowa was flat was also in charge of the altitude charts.

I have two new favorite animals, the tortoise and dragonfly. A couple of riders told me that truckers call a rig with an undersized motor a dragonfly, it drags up the climb and then has to fly down the other side to make it up the next hill…..dragonfly. Thats a very accurate description of my climbing style. The tortoise as in continuing on steadily to the finish line the hare zips around. So the next time you happen to see a tortoise or a dragonfly you can remember me.

Tonight we are staying at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. We are staying in the dorms. YES! We have a bed, we have air conditioning and best of all there is not a train track on the other side of the street. Since I left Denver almost every night has been with the train tracks within one block. Tomorrow we bike 113 miles to Algona, Iowa and the map shows a nice railroad right next to the school where we are staying. So tonight we feast on silence. Dordt is a nice place and the school has gone all out to take care of us. Its really humbling to think of all the work they have done to help us for just one night.

We have 3 very long days back to back so if you don’t hear from me for a few days it may mean one of 3 things:

1) We do not have an internet connection (the most likely scenario)

2) I was too tired to write (very likely).

3) I have become a SAG (support and gear) driver and don’t want you to know (unlikely).

Thanks to all of you leaving comments, I love reading them and they help me get on the bike and ignore the messages coming to me from the parts that are actually touching the bike. So keep them coming and I’ll try to answer you every now and then.

Finally and most importantly. Remember what this ride is about………Its about helping the poor and fighting poverty. So find a way to give with either your time, your skills or your financial resources. Find a group and pitch in against the fight. If you need a reminder flip over the the page on my blog called why I ride. If you want to give click on the links in the blog titled “I need money.”

Talk to you later